Rep. Kam Buckner

Creates the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides requirements concerning disclosure and review of prior authorization requirements, denial of claims or coverage by a utilization review program, and the implementation of prior authorization requirements or restrictions. Provides requirements concerning a utilization review program's obligations with respect to prior authorizations in nonurgent circumstances, urgent health care services, and emergency health care services. Provides that a utilization review program shall not require prior authorization under specified circumstances. Provides requirements concerning the length of prior authorizations. Provides that health care services are automatically deemed authorized if a utilization review program fails to comply with the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Director of Insurance may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $250,000 for violations of the Act. Defines terms. Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act to provide that an insurer that provides prescription drug benefits must comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Provides that if prior authorization for covered post-stabilization services is required by a health care plan, the plan shall comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to provide that all managed care organizations shall comply with the requirements of the Prior Authorization Reform Act. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2021.

Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act. Provides that an income share agreement provider shall clearly and conspicuously disclose specified information in an income-based financing transaction no later than 3 business days before the consummation of the transaction. Requires an income share agreement provider to disclose a borrower's effective annual percentage rate under specified scenarios. Requires an income share agreement provider to provide a borrower with a monthly statement within 15 days before a payment due date, and to provide a borrower with an annual statement. Provides that the contractual payment percentage of an agreement may not exceed 5% of a borrower's qualified income, and no income share agreement term may exceed 60 months. Provides that an income share agreement provider shall not contract for a payment cap that exceeds 1.10 times the amount of the advance or extend an advance that exceeds $5,000. Provides that no payment may be collected under the terms of an income share agreement when a borrower is enrolled in a covered educational program, or during the 6-month grace period after a borrower leaves such a program. Provides that an income share agreement provider shall not engage in unfair or deceptive practices toward a borrower or misrepresent or omit any material information in connection with an income-based financing transaction. Provides that a borrower must exhaust all sources of federal student loans and state grants for which the borrower is directly eligible before entering into an educational income share agreement. Requires an income share agreement provider to provide readily accessible methods for consumers to submit a request for assistance to the provider, and to implement a process by which a borrower can escalate any request for assistance. Makes other changes. Defines terms.

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice to send to a consumer an unsolicited check that, when cashed, obligates the recipient to repay the amount of the check plus interest and fees. Provides that the provision does not apply to a transaction in which a consumer has submitted an application for, or requested an extension of, credit from the person before receiving the check or instrument, or when the consumer has an existing relationship with the person.

Amends the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that it shall be established as an aspirational goal to award State contracts to businesses owned by Descendants of American Slavery in a total dollar amount that is proportionate to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State. Provides further requirements concerning the awarding of State contracts to businesses owned by Descendants of American Slavery. Requires reporting concerning the disparity between the representation of Descendants of American Slavery in State contracts compared to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State. Specifies further requirements concerning waiver requests under the Act. Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Requires labor organizations to establish and maintain membership that includes Descendants of American Slavery that is proportionate to the percentage of such persons who are residents of this State, and report those actions. Defines the term "minority person" to include a Descendant of American Slavery. Makes conforming changes.

Amends the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Adds student loan borrowers to the definition of "consumer". Adds to the definition of "debt settlement provider" any person or entity engaging in, or holding itself out as engaging in, or any person who solicits for or acts on behalf of such person or entity engaging in or holding itself out as engaging in, the business of student loan debt relief services in exchange for any fee or compensation assessed against or charged to a consumer. Excludes institutions of higher education from the definition of "debt settlement provider". Defines other terms. Requires a specified notice and disclosure to student loan borrowers to be included in advertising and marketing communications concerning student loan debt relief services. Requires providers of student loan debt relief services to provide a specified notice and disclosure before a student loan borrower signs a contract. Provides that any fees charged to a student loan borrower in exchange for student loan debt relief shall comply with a provision concerning fees. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Common Interest Community Association Act. Provides that any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in a common interest community, and any provision of a community instrument that either effectively prohibits or unreasonably restricts the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station within an owner's unit or in a designated parking space or an electric vehicle dedicated time-of-use (TOU) meter, is void and unenforceable. Provides that if approval is required for the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station or electric vehicle dedicated TOU meter, the application for approval shall be processed and approved by the association in the same manner as an application for approval of an architectural modification to the property. Provides requirements for an electric vehicle charging station or electric vehicle dedicated TOU meter placed in a common area or an exclusive use common area. Provides that the association may install an electric vehicle charging station or electric vehicle dedicated TOU meter in the common area for the use of all members of the association and all unit owners. Provides that an association that willfully violates the provisions is liable to the unit owner for actual damages and shall pay a civil penalty to the unit owner in an amount not to exceed $1,000.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board may grant a person committed to the Department of Corrections early release for medical incapacity or terminal illness. Establishes the procedures for applying for that release and the considerations the Prisoner Review Board must make in determining whether to grant the release. Provides that a committed person granted medical release shall be released on mandatory supervised release for a period of 5 years subject to the Code provisions concerning mandatory supervised release, which shall operate to discharge any remaining term of years imposed upon him or her; however, the person shall not serve a period of mandatory supervised release greater than the aggregate of the discharged underlying sentence and the mandatory supervised release period. Provides that a grant of medical release shall be an act of executive and legislative grace and shall be at the sole discretion of the Prisoner Review Board.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district from placing a student in seclusion; defines seclusion. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of seclusion in a court-ordered placement, other than a placement in an educational program of a school district, or in a placement or facility to which other laws or rules apply. Requires State Board of Education rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Directs the Illinois Gaming Board to conduct a disparity study on whether minority and women-owned businesses face any barriers that prevent their equitable participation in the business of legalized sports wagering.

Amends Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division fares for transportation wholly within the City of Chicago shall be equal to the fares set by the Chicago Transit Board for rail transportation. Provides that fares for Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division transportation that originate or conclude outside of the City of Chicago shall be set by the Commuter Rail Board and be based on the zone in which the transportation originates and concludes. Provides that the Commuter Rail Board shall accept the Ventra card for use on the Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division and riders using the Ventra card shall pay through the Ventra application or at a station. Provides that the Commuter Rail Board shall adopt a policy to periodically check riders' tickets, including Ventra tickets and the Ventra application, on the Metra Electric Division and Rock Island Division to determine whether a rider has paid for transportation at the station or on the Ventra application. Provides that transfer fees using Ventra cards or the Ventra application between transportation provided by the Chicago Transit Board, Suburban Bus Board, and the Electric District or Rock Island District of the Commuter Rail Board shall be equal to the transfer fare between Chicago Transit Board transportation. Provides that lost revenue experienced by the Commuter Rail Board due to the implementation of any requirement relating to specified Metra Eclectic Division and Rock Island Division fare provisions are not "costs" in the calculation of whether fares and charges received in each fiscal year equal at least 50% of the aggregate costs of providing public transportation. Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act making conforming changes. Effective June 1, 2020.